Bob Honiball for quality Martial Arts and Self Defence instruction
Bob has been training in the Martial Arts since 1967 and has been instructing since the early 1970's. As a martial artist Bob is respected for his experience, skill, ability and depth of knowledge. As a teacher Bob is renowned for his sincerity, clarity and open approach to teaching, his objective being to develop and refine the skills, physical capabilities and character of the students he teaches, to the highest possible standard, taking into account their personal expectations, physical capacities, needs and goals.
Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Do
Kyokai
Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Do is a dynamic and powerful martial art. The trained practitioner is able to co ordinate mind and body with such skill and precision that a tremendous amount of power can be delivered, even when at a disadvantage of size and physical strength. Okinawan Goju Ryu specialises in middle and close range fighting, with emphasis being placed on the development of effective martial skills and character building. Because of this, Okinawan Goju Ryu is respected as a highly effective system of self defence.
Bob is a 7th Dan Kyoshi in Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Do. In 1997 he was awarded the title of Shibucho (Chief Instructor for the UK) for Jundokan United Kingdom by Master Eiichi Miyazato 10th Dan Hanshi, Jundokan United Kingdom being an affiliated branch association of the Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Do Kyokai, who's headquarters are based in Okinawan, Japan. This position was held by Bob until he left the United Kingdom to live in Lithuania in 2008. At present Bob is Shibu (Chief Instructor) for Kyokai Lithuania and India, remaining as Technical Director for Kyokai United Kingdom. As Chief Instructor, Bob is responsible for maintaining a high technical standard for all the Sensei's (Instructor's) and Dojo's (Club's) within Kyokai Lithuania and India, supervising grading examinations and representing Kyokai Lithuania and India at international seminars. As Technical Director for Kyokai United Kingdom Bob acts as an advisor on all technical matters, as well as instructing seminars in the United Kingdom.
In 1967 saw Bob commence his study of the martial arts with Judo; he began training in Karate Do in 1969 and in 1971 he started his study of Goju Ryu Karate Do. In 1986 Bob joined the Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Do Kyokai, Jundokan United Kingdom whose Chief Instructor was then Richard Barrett. Bob together with his top student Tony Green (now Chief Instructor for Kyokai United Kingdom) first travelled to train at the Jundokan, Okinawa, Japan in 1989, under the instruction of Master Eiichi Miyazato and the other Masters of the Kyokai. Bob returned to Okinawa with his senior students to train under the guidance of Master Eiichi Miyazato as much as possible until Master Miyazato's unfortunate death in 1999. Since that time Bob and his students have endeavoured to return to the Okinawa as much as possible, in order to refine their skills in Okinawan Goju Ryu and to strengthen their ties with the Masters of the Kyokai. In 2003 Bob was graded 7th Dan and given the rank of Kyoshi by the then Chairman of the Kyokai, Master Koshin Iha 10th Dan Hanshi.
Yang Style Taiji Quan
Taiji Quan (sometimes written Tai Chi Chuan) is an ancient Chinese art that has the ability to improve one's health and develop self defence skills. Taiji Quan is based upon relaxation of body and mind. The quiet and gentle nature of the exercises overcomes stress and its related illnesses. Taiji School of Central Equilibrium offers an opportunity to explore harmony within all movement, leading to deepened sensitivity, the development of internal energy and the ability to deal with external forces. Taiji is sometimes called meditation in motion, Taoist principles in practice, moving Yoga or a Chinese Soft style of Martial Art. However, since no single description represents Taiji as a whole, all should be included to be considered Taiji Quan. Whether being practiced as a healthy exercise or for self defence, relaxation is the fundamental principle upon which Taiji Quan is based. Other benefits include a calm mind, improved blood circulation, better posture and body alignment as well as a strengthened immune system, all contributing to a greater quality of life for the practitioner.
Our school practices traditional Yang Style Taiji from the lineage of Grandmaster Cheng Man Ching (1902-1975), Master Huang Sheng Shyan (1910-1992) and Mr Wee Kee Jin who is Bob's teacher today. Grandmaster Cheng Man Ching studied with Yang Chen Fu for nearly a decade before going on to help spread Yang Style Taiji Quan throughout the world. Master Huang started training in Fujian White Crane at the age of fourteen. He was originally famed as "Young Hero" for his martial skill in the art of Fujian White Crane in his home province of Fujian, China. Following the Communist take over of mainland China, Master Huang immigrated to Taiwan. There he met and knelt before Grandmaster Cheng Man Ching, becoming a devoted disciple for seven years, before moving to Singapore in 1958 and later Malaysia, where he founded the Singapore Taiji Association, which has over thirty schools throughout South East Asia. It is estimated that Master Huang Shen Shyan had more than 10,000 students study at his schools. Mr Wee Kee Jin lived and studied full time with Master Huang from 1983-1988 and was one of only four students to have had this opportunity, becoming one of his inner disciples. A Gold medallist in the 1989 World Cup Martial Arts Championships, he immigrated to New Zealand in 1991. Known for his exceptional ability and depth of knowledge, Mr Wee Kee Jin is also renowned for his clarity and open approach making him a highly respected and sort after teacher. Mr Wee Kee Jin is now the Head Instructor for the School of Central Equilibrium.
Bob is a qualified Instructor of Yang Style Taiji Quan within the School of Central Equilibrium. In 1991 Bob began training in Yang Style Taiji Quan under Pete Dobson who still instructs him today (Pete Dobson being the United Kingdom representative for Yang Style Taiji, School of Central Equilibrium). Bob was given license to teach Taiji Quan in 2002 by Mr Wee Kee Jin.
School of Real World Self Defense and Combat Skills
Bob's system of Self Defence and Combat Skills is based upon his knowledge of training and teaching martial arts since 1967. Years of research work into civilian self defence and military combat systems (being especially influenced by the work of Kelly McCann, a renowned security expert who's Combatives system is built upon the experience gained from actual combat). The refinements and experience gained from teaching individual door supervisors, security and military personal, police officers, at risk individuals and groups. This coupled with Bob's knowledge of working within the security industry (door supervisor and personal protection work) for 10 years in addition to his personal experience of confrontation and violence.
Our combat ideology is based foremost on the reality of combat, the development of a combative mind set, the use of natural body movements and the latest research into the psychological effects of stress in combat, making the system simple to learn yet very effective. The constant research work carried out by Bob and his fellow instructors is allowing his system to continually refine and evolve.
Our Self Defence, classes, seminars and personal training are designed for individual members of the public, or groups who do not wish to learn a martial art, but instead want to learn the defensive tactics and techniques necessary to protect themselves and their loved ones, preventing them from becoming the victims of violent crime. We will teach you how not to become a victim in the first place, to develop the awareness skills necessary to avoid, evade or escape a potential attack before it happens, how to deal with a potentially violent confrontation, then if all else fails and you are about to be attacked, the hit and run tactics and techniques necessary in order to defend yourself and effect a safe escape. Women face particular threats and this is taken into account by giving them specific tactics and strategies to deal with the threat situations they are likely to face. Pepper spray is a valuable self defence tool if used correctly; we will teach you the tactics and techniques needed to employ it safely and effectively, in order to affect a safe escape. In extreme situations, some everyday items can be turned into improvised weapons; we will show how this can be effectively achieved.
Our Real World Combat Skills classes, seminars and personal instruction are designed for use by the military, security organisations and those individuals who wish to refine and develop their Self Defence skills still further. We teach the defensive and offensive, tactics and techniques needed to deal with unarmed aggressors as well as those armed with blunt instruments, edged weapons and firearms. We also teach weapon skills, including the combat use of pepper spray, baton, knife and improvised weapons.
Everyone who faces the reality of actual combat will feel the effects of fear, including military personnel, police officers and security professional. Therefore, for any Self Defence or Combative Skills program to be successful and effective, it is vital that it takes into account the psychological and physiological effects of combat stress. All our programs have been specifically designed with this in mind in order to make our students as effective and as safe as possible.
The tactics and techniques we teach take into account the law on self defence and the use of reasonable force.
Fujian White Crane
Fujian White Crane is a fighting tradition that is based on the fighting ability and characteristics of the Crane. Because a Crane is an apparently weak creature without the advantage of muscular strength, it specialises in using defence tactics and counter attacks to defeat an opponent. Faced by an enemy the Crane will always keep its distance, remaining calm, quite and steady, yet alert and ready to attack. When the opportunity arises and the timing is right the Crane will attack in the blink of an eye closing on its enemy using short and middle range techniques to strike the vital points of its enemy to end the fight quickly.
Our school Fujian White Crane from the tradition passed down to us from Master Huang Sheng Shyan (1910-1992) and Mr Wee Kee Jin, who is Bob's teacher today. Master Huang started training in Fujian White Crane at the age of fourteen. He was originally famed as "Young Hero" for his martial skill in the art of Fujian White Crane in his home province of Fujian, China. Following the Communist take over of mainland China, Master Huang Sheng Shyan immigrated to Taiwan. There he met and knelt before Grandmaster Cheng Man Ching. For seven years he devoted himself to being a disciple of Grandmaster Cheng Man Ching, studying Taiji Quan before moving to Singapore in 1958 and later Malaysia, where he founded the Singapore Taiji Association, which has over thirty schools and an estimated 10,000 students throughout South East Asia. Although predominately propagating Taiji Quan, Master Huang Sheng Shyan passed on his tradition of Fujian White Crane to his inner disciples. Mr Wee Kee Jin was one of the few inner disciples to learn the four Fujian White Crane forms directly from Master Huang Sheng Shyan. With over 30 years of Martial Arts training, half of which has been as a professional teacher of Fujian White Crane and Taiji Quan, Mr Wee Kee Jin is now following the express wishes of his Master to preserve and foster the art of Fujian White Crane by broadening its access in Australasia and Europe. Mr Wee Kee Jin is renowned for his exceptional ability, depth of knowledge, clarity and open approach to teaching making him a highly respected and sort after teacher.
Fujian White Crane has influenced Okinawan Karate Do, especially the fighting tradition of Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Do. Master Kanryo Higaonna, the teacher of Master Chojun Miyagi (the founder of Goju Ryu), travelled to Fujian province in China to further his study of Martial Arts in 1873, during a decade of study one of his foremost teachers was Xie Zhong Xiang (also known as Ryu Ryu Ko) a Master of Fujian White Crane, who was also one of the principle teachers of Master Huang Sheng Shyan.
Bob is a qualified Instructor of Fujian White Crane within the School of Central Equilibrium. In 1993 he began his study of Fujian White Crane and was given license to teach in 2002 by Mr Wee Kee Jin, Chief Instructor of the Taiji Quan School of Central Equilibrium.
Although we teach different disciplines the underlying principles for each discipline are inherently the same. This does not change in any way what the Masters of each discipline have passed down to us; just the opposite, the principles we employ aid in the refinement and development of each discipline. When Bob asked Mr Wee Kee Jin (his Taiji/Fujian White Crane teacher) about his concern over studying and teaching different Martial Arts, his advice was, "You should never change one thing for another but you will find that one thing will influence the other", Bob has found these wise words to be true. For example, the dynamics contained within Okinawan Goju Ryu and Fujian White Crane are fundamentally the same, the only difference being that Goju Ryu uses the balance of relaxation and muscle tension (Go/Ju) to give power, whereas Fujian White Crane relies on relaxed force. This also reflects the historical links of both disciplines. Furthermore, commonality of principles aids in the learning process for those students who wish to study more than one discipline.
For further information about classes, seminars or personal instruction please contact Bob.